NatsFest

Spring is in the air! It's a balmy 31 degrees outside, and I just spent the day at Nationals Park. The team held a "NatsFest" today before they head off to spring training in Florida. I've already had my picture taken with *sigh* Ryan Zimmerman, so I can't say I was super excited about going to this. But the team was opening its doors to the clubhouse for the first time. And that I was excited about!

We got to see the team's indoor batting cages.

Then we made our way to the clubhouse through The Tunnel.

A view into the players' kitchen, with the rules of the game posted on the wall.

The players' bathroom. Note all their hair products and lotions. Hehe!

Everyone was lined up to have their picture taken in front of Ryan Zimmerman's locker.

Lastly, a view of the dugout.

99 things

I stole this from my friend Heather, and I am totally bored at work today, so I figured this would be a fun activity. I had thought about sending this as an email to all my friends, but I didn't want to bother them with another "forward."

And please accept my apologies...this post does not involve pictures. Or history. Well, except for my personal history.

Here are 99 things that I've done, want to do, or want no part of. And here are how they're coded:

Things you've already done: bold
Things you'd like to do: italicized
Things you haven't done nor wish to: regular text

(Plus I've added my comments in parentheses.)

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars. (I was an "outdoorsy" Girl Scout, believe it or not.)
3. Played in a band. (Does orchestra count?)
4. Visited Hawaii.
5. Watched a meteor shower. (I think I have. My dad was all into astronomy when I was a kid, so I'm sure he dragged us outside for a meteor shower at some point.)
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland/world. (I've been to Disneyland more times than I can count.)
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo.
11. Bungee jumped.
12. Visited Paris.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch. (Does typing count as an art?)
15. Adopted a child.
16. Had food poisoning. (Not sure if it was food poisoning or a virus, but it was not fun.)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch hiked.
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not (physically) ill.
24. Built a snow fort. (Sadly, there was no snow-fort-building in sunny California.)
25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a marathon.
28. Ridden a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse. (I want to make a joke about a total eclipse of the heart, but can't think of a good one.)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise. (Never again.)
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language. (I tried to teach myself Dutch once; that last about a week.)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing. (I've done a rock wall; does that count?)
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person.
41. Sung karaoke. (Only in that Rock Band game.)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa. (I'd love to do a safari. Elephants! Giraffes!)
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theatre.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Gotten flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood. (I can't; I'm terrified of needles.)
65. Gone sky diving.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.
67. Bounced a check.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book.
81. Visited the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible. (I'm almost there! I have about 50 pages to go!!)
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby.
95. Seen the Alamo in person. (I need to get to the basement of the Alamo. Movie reference...anyone?)
96. Swum in the Great Salt Lake. (I visited the Great Salt Lake when I was 3, but I don't remember swimming in it. Help me out, mom - did I?)
97. Been involved in a law suit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.

Strolling the Capitol Grounds

I took a walk around the Capitol in the late afternoon yesterday since it was a lovely day outside, and the lighting was perfect for taking pictures.

Union Station decked out for Christmas.

Construction is underway for the platforms and grandstands.

Another view of the construction.

Manassas Battlefield

Last weekend I went to Manassas Battlefield with Blake and our friend Pat. And it was FREEZING!

How cold was it?

We walked around the battlefield for as long as I could stand it, but I didn't last very long.

A Zeus-like statue of Stonewall Jackson.

Rainbow

We had a wicked rainstorm last weekend, but God gave us a lovely (double) rainbow afterwards!

Sneak preview

Today is the official reopening of the National Museum of American History. Luckily, through my mad connections, I was able to attend a sneak preview of the museum last Sunday. (If you'll remember, I also got a hardhat tour of the construction site a few months ago.) We were only able to access parts of the museum, as they were still working furiously to complete everything. But it looks stunning.

The main atrium with the abstract flag.

People waiting in line to get into the Star-Spangled Banner exhibit.

The Mall entrance and the "grand staircase." So light and airy!

A view from underneath the staircase. Note to women: Don't wear skirts!!

Workers are putting the finishing touches on the American Presidency exhibit.

The Greensboro lunch counter. See if you can spot me in the mirror!

We affectionately refer to this statue as "sexy George."

One of the best WWII propaganda posters I've ever seen.

Everyone's favorite puffy shirt (displayed next to Oscar the Grouch).

I left the museum around 5:00 and encountered this:

Lovely!

National Aquarium

Since we had today off for Veterans Day, Blake and I drove to Baltimore to visit the National Aquarium. Honestly, I was a little disappointed, but maybe that's because everyone had built it up so much and I had high expectations. It was still a fun day though, and I didn't have to go to work, so I can't complain.

The centerpiece of the aquarium was this large tank filled with various types of rays. And one three-legged turtle.

We went to the half-hour long dolphin show. Always a good time.

A pig-nosed turtle with a soft shell.

Clown fish.

Parrots in the "rain forest."

After leaving the aquarium we saw a jellyfish in the harbor. Crikey!

Outside the aquarium was the Lightship Chesapeake.

And the submarine Torsk.

Blake doesn't like having his picture taken, so I hope he forgives me for this.

Great Falls

Today I went hiking around Great Falls National Park. It's only about a 20-minute drive from the city, but it feels like you're out in the rugged wilderness. Here are a few pictures; you can see the rest here.

Autumn leaves

Now and then

I love living in Old Town. I think it's so fascintating to see how buildings change over time. Like this one:
It looks like it used to be a fertilizer store/warehouse, and now it's a Christmas shop! You'll notice the building says "Ceres Fertilizers"...Ceres is a small town not far from where I grew up, named after the Roman god of agriculture.